How often and how much should I be bottle feeding my 6 month old?

It may seem daunting – especially to first-time parents – but between the ages of 4 and 6 months, you should start introducing food into your baby’s diet. Now as we all know, babies rely on routine, so when that routine is disturbed, it can cause serious issues. From tantrums to disrupted sleeping patterns, babies need a set routine or it can significantly throw them off. Therefore, when the time comes, you need to remember that your aim is to introduce the concept of food alongside the milk they have been drinking since birth. Whether it be pureed food or soft biscuits, supplementing traditional milk with food is one of the hardest parts about being a first-time parent.

With this in mind, it can be difficult to know exactly how much milk your little one should be having alongside all this new food. It’s important to remember that every baby is different, with different appetites, weights and needs, however there are certain guidelines that you should try and follow:

If you’re breastfeeding

If you have been breastfeeding, and want to continue to do so, it’s recommended that you continue to breastfeed on demand. As you can’t measure the amount of milk being consumed, unlike with formula, you should follow your baby’s guidance. After all, it’s highly unlikely that they will overindulge to a large degree. Letting your baby reap the multiple health benefits breastmilk alongside food for a long as they wish is the finest way to ensure that they are getting the health benefits of all the nutrient-dense food.

If you’re bottle feeding

If you’re bottle feeding – whether you have been doing from the start, or you wish to introduce it as they get older – it’s recommended that you should feed your baby around four or five times, with a total of 500-600ml (17-20oz), over a 24-hour period. Now as mentioned above, this is just a guide and is very dependent on a multitude of factors. Some babies for example take to food well, enjoying the taste and texture of more solid food. However some babies take a little longer, so need more milk to substitute it.

Whether you’re breastfeeding or using formula milk, you should rely on your maternal instincts to best judge when your baby has had enough to eat and when they still need some more. Milk Monster is the ideal companion for parents who are introducing food to their little ones. Both breast and formula milks’ nutritional value begins to deteriorate when left for periods of time. The handy Milk Monster timer alerts parents when the milk begins to depreciate, highlighting it’s time to throw it away. Attaching effortlessly to any bottle, the brightly-coloured timer not only looks great, but also provides a simple, yet effective solution to one of parents’ main concerns.

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https://www.milkmonster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/baby-blog2.jpg641960MMhttps://www.milkmonster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/logo-padded-flag.pngMM2016-07-05 22:27:192016-12-21 06:30:49How often and how much should I be bottle feeding my 6 month old?